Things to do in Edinburgh this August

The global spotlight is on Edinburgh during August, and 2017 is no exception. With Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, The Free Fringe and Edinburgh Tattoo – national and international visitors pack out the city, filling hotels, venues, restaurants and bars. Here’s our guide full of reasons to visit Edinburgh during August whether you can visit for a few days or a few weeks there’s plenty to do.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has sold out for the last 15 years and is a must-see for local and international visitors alike. The BBC highlights the show resulting in a massive 5.4 million global audience. Known as one of the greatest shows on Earth, The Edinburgh Tattoo showcases music and dance from around the world and visitors at the final 2016 performance were given a 2017 theme preview.

The unforgettable sound of Scottish bagpipes and inspiring dance of highland dancers against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle will leave you stunned by the performances and celebration. If you don’t manage to get tickets, you’ll still see the firework display above the castle each night in the closing of the show.

The best of the arts gather in Edinburgh during August for the International Festival. Intense performances on a large scale bring exciting experiences to everyone who visits this cultural event. From opera and theatre to dance and music, globally acclaimed productions fill this year’s Edinburgh Festival programme.

Visit eif.co.uk for this year’s programme of events taking place in some of Edinburgh’s most impressive venues including Usher Hall and the Festival and King’s Theatres.

Part of the Edinburgh International Festival, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world. Not to be missed if you love comedy, dance, theatre, circus or cabaret. There will be over 50,000 performances in over 290 venues with shows to suit all budgets. Our four Edinburgh hotels are ideally located for city exploring. Stay in the West End, New Town or Old Town to make sure you’re in the heart of the action. Grab your tickets early to avoid disappointment, available to buy online now at edfringe.com. Here’s our guide to Edinburgh Fringe to help you most of your trip. It includes local tips to maximise your stay.

There’s lots to do in August, even if you’re on a budget. In 1996, Free Fringe was added to Edinburgh Festival Fringe to make sure there are enough shows with free entrance to everyone so take a risk and see something new. Over 400 shows and 7,800 performances bring a wide range of experiences for free. Similar to the Fringe, you’ll find comedy, dance, theatre, cabaret and music, all free to enter.